Shared Responsibilities - LW

Part 4

Ash's POV:

After arriving home I pulled up my laptop after grabbing a coffee to check in on my business. I should probably elaborate on that, because women rugby players are still far behind most of us have second jobs, especially if we aren't apart of national teams. So I decided to invest a bit of money in opening up some mechanic shops, that don't rip people off especially women, so I currently have 8 shops up and down the country. Main one being in Leeds seen as though that's where I lived when I set it up and now one in st. Albans, where Jack works.

After checking all statements, deliveries and pay checks were good, I closed down my laptop and heated up some left over pasta and decided to scroll through my socials. Somehow ending up on a certain blonde defenders account on insta, should I follow her? Is that weird? No no it's just friendly right? Fuck it! I hit the follow as I scrolled through noticing the small details about her, how she's family orientated, clearly has a brilliant sense of style. Oh god I can't be crushing on her can I? Right that's enough of that, deciding to head for a shower before jumping into bed before tackle training tomorrow.

Arriving at Grace's house in the morning ready for our early morning training I quickly checked my phone noticing I had a notification whilst I was driving.

+447390126783:
Morning, it's Leah. Thought I'd check if you're free tomorrow as we don't have a game or training with it being a Sunday, so I can take you for that coffee? X

Me:
Morning love, we have a game at 12 but I'm free after? X

Blonde👀:
Can I bring a few girls to watch the game? Then we can go after? X

Me:
Sounds good to me! See you soon x

Smiling down at my phone, liking where this new connection could be going Grace entered the car "morning Ash smash, who's got you smiling at your phone!" Smirking at me as she got herself settled. "No one!... oh just Leah, I think she's gonna come to our game tomorrow with some of the girls" I shrugged trying to settle my nerves. "Mhmm, she's your type yano?" "What do you mean?" "Come on Ash Smash, blonde, blue eyed, sporty? That's like your go to!" Grace pointed out as I started to argue at the shocking nickname she's been trying to get to stick for years "G, that nickname is atrocious please stop, and yes I suppose you might have a point but I-I don't know if I'm ready for that right now". "It's okay to let people in again, you've got the team to support you". I gave her a small smile knowing that before I slept around and did one night stands or friends with benefits, I was hurt and I wasn't really the same after.

"Right come on girls! Two laps of the pitch to warm up and into the stretches please!" Coach called as we all joined him on the field before setting off into our warm up routine.
"Ash come here a sec!" Coach called after I finished my warm up. "Yes coach?" "Because Zoe is out injured I need you to practice your conversions today, that alright?" "Ye sure coach no problem!" I nodded before going over to our kicking coach who was already setting up the kicking T for me. "Right Ash, you know what to do, get warmed up with it and make sure to get your different angles in, I'll keep an eye on your form" I offered a thumbs up at Johnny our kicking coach who new I was more than capable with my kicking.

About seven kicks later I adjusted my angle before belting the ball as hard as I could over the sticks, which ended up going into one of our other pitches, which I didn't realise hosted the arsenal team. "Right you can go get that Ash, jeez you had to kick it that far?" Johnny joked as he laughed at me knowing sometimes I liked to get out my frustrations. Quickly jogging over, I noticed the Arsenal girls were on a water break.

"Sorry girls went a bit hard on the kick!" I apologised quickly only to be interrupted by the Irish powerhouse herself. "I don't know how you can even kick that ball!" "Hahah it's difficult at first but you get the hang of it, just got to know where to hit" I laughed as I reached down to grab the ball, eyes connecting with those pretty blue eyes. "Don't you have different types of kicks in rugby?" One of the girls questioned. "Erm ye we do, hardest one is probs the drop kick" I shrugged as its the one everyone struggles with. "Ooo show us!" "Yeah go on Ash!" The girls seemed to cheer, quickly looking over to the sticks I noticed I was about 30meters away, shrugging to myself, it's possible. "Right fine, you ready?" I smirked at them before I set up my angle. Dropping the ball from my hands, bringing my dominant right leg back before powering it forward to meeting the ball as it was closing in on the ground, and connected sending the ball straight over the sticks. Smiling to myself at the fact I didn't embarrass myself in front of the team, especially a certain blonde who I winked at as I turned to face the team. "Woah! That's well cool!" "I wonder how far you can kick a proper shaped ball!" Of course that comment would come from the one and only Katie McCabe. "Is that you asking there McCabe?" I winked jokingly, not noticing a slightly jealous looking Leah next to her. "Oh go on Ash!" "Do it!" Quickly kicking up a football from the ground which seemed to surprise a few of the football players I smashed my laces through the ball to which ended at the other side of the pitch they were training on, where the keepers were running through some drills. "Sorry!" I shouted over earning a shocked thumbs up from them all. "Right as fun as this was ladies, I best be off got a game to get ready for!" I waved as I jogged off back to continue with my own training.

After finishing up training with some tackle practice we headed in to the canteen for some lunch, which seemed to be the same time the Arsenal girls were coming in. After eventually grabbing our food we sat down, both teams mixing with me ending up on a table with Grace, Hannah and some Arsenal girls, Katie, Beth, Viv, Jen and Leah, and who sat right across from me. After all conversing in small talk, Katie and Jen turned to me, Grace and Hannah "so what positions are you?" Me and Grace both having our minds in the gutter and me currently taking a sip of water both burst out laughing with me trying not to choke on my drink. This seemed to send the rest of the table into a laughing fit. "Jesus, you two! You're actually children!" Hannah scolded I bet her and Kim would get along like a house on fire. I thought to myself before Hannah answered the question "I'm a scrum half or number 9 as it's also called" Grace soon following "I'm a winger which numbers are either 11 or 14, I don't mind which side. Go on Ash Smash, what's your position?" Grace smirked at me to which I rolled my eyes "I normally play blindside flanker which is number 6, but sometimes I fill in for a fly half which is number 10" I answered looking at the girls who all seemed to understand especially with rugby being a big sport from the countries they are from. "Hang on a minute, what's with the nickname?" "Ash Smash was it?" I groaned knowing I didn't successfully avoid the nickname. "Hahah oh, it's a nickname Grace has been trying to get everyone to call Ash" Hannah laughed clearly feeling amused. "Can I ask why?" A small chuckle leaving the blondes mouth as I looked across to find Leah smirking at me. "No no, we don't need to go into that" I quickly tried to divert, as I looked into the blondes eyes, but unfortunately for me my best friend or soon to be ex best friend opened her mouth. "Haha it's because our lovely captain here when she gets a bit angry on the pitch she turns into a bull dozer. Especially after this one game wher..." "okay okay, thanks Grace but they don't want to hear this". I tried desperately to avoid the story but that fell on deaf ears as all the Arsenal girls begged Grace to continue, sitting back groaning I knew I'd never win. "So as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, we were playing against our rivals and there number 10 is Ash's ex". I groaned throwing my head back at the thought of her "so all the players on their team ended up gunning for our little Ash here, until she got sick of it and asked for the ball after a line out and just completely bulldozed through 3 or 4 of the players to then score a try!" "It's true, I've never seen her so angry but at the same time it was the funniest thing I'd ever seen, especially the other teams faces!" Hannah joined in adding to the story as our table all laughed. After some calming down Leah asked "yeah but why did they hate you so much?" I groaned yet again before making eye contact with her "because we didn't end on good terms and she told her entire team some lie that I cheated on her and broke her heart" I answered feeling thankful that she's out my life, well until our next match, which was in a couple weeks time. "Yeah, she was a horrible bitch! I don't know what you saw in her Cap". Hannah jumped in, knowing how that girl broke me. "Well she was your type". Grace inputted opening another can of worms as Jen, Katie and Beth all piped up "Oo what's your type?" "Oh no" I groaned glancing at a smirking Leah who seemed to be enjoying this little interrogation. "Well I'll tell you.." "no you won't Grace!" "Oh come on Ash!" "Yeah tell us Grace" Jen and Beth all came to her rescue, so Grace being Grace stuck her tongue out at me before continuing "blondes definitely, also blue eyes tends to be a thing, sporty obviously, got to be stylish as our captain here loves her clothes, and also family orientated". Blushing bright red as my eyes connected with Leah's who's face also seemed to be a bit red as the rest of the table all shared glances, a silent agreement on setting up the two England captains.

AN:
Probs have another one out tomorrow night before I start my shifts again on Thursday. Hope you're all good, don't forget vote ⭐️ and comment, would love to hear your thoughts! See you in the next one! ✌🏼